UberGerbil wrote:Never understood how a toothpaste could support a college, much less field a football team.

Here's the really scary part. Until 1890 it was known as Madison University (it's in Madison County, NY). In 1890 they renamed the place after one James Colby Colgate, who'd given them so much money. Said James Colby Colgate was one of the founders of Colgate-Palmolive, so all of the toothpaste jokes are based in fact. I was last there in '08 or so and the bookstore still only sold Colgate toothpaste and ancillary products.

EDIT: Our high point was 1932. Undefeated, untied, unscored upon, uninvited. 9-0, no points scored against us, and no bowl invite. My mother's father was on campus that year and the stories I've heard in transmission (he died when I was 3) make it clear that the student body at the time was decidedly less than happy. Since it was 1932, I'm also pretty sure that my Granddad was one of the more accomplished rum-runners on campus.

UberGerbil wrote:Never understood how a toothpaste could support a college, much less field a football team.

Here's the really scary part. Until 1890 it was known as Madison University (it's in Madison County, NY). In 1890 they renamed the place after one James Colby Colgate, who'd given them so much money. Said James Colby Colgate was one of the founders of Colgate-Palmolive, so all of the toothpaste jokes are based in fact. I was last there in '08 or so and the bookstore still only sold Colgate toothpaste and ancillary products.

This is amusingly bizarre, though it's nothing compared to Vanderbilt. I can still remember my astonishment when I learned that Vanderbilt was located in Nashville, Tennessee -- and not some WASPy, croquet-playing, Ralph Lauren-wearing corner of Connecticut. The cognitive dissonance still blows my mind. Seriously, the Vanderbilt Commodores play in the same city as Hee Haw and the Grand Ole Opry?

The movement towards 16 team mega conferences is disconcerting.So much for traditional and regional rivalries. College football is more concerned about the almighty buck rather than the athletes. The Big East and Big 12 will more than likely be in shambles in short order.

So the imminent Pac-16 has six ranked entries, three from the current members and three from the about-to-join (plus ASU that just fell out).

rogue426 wrote:The movement towards 16 team mega conferences is disconcerting.So much for traditional and regional rivalries. College football is more concerned about the almighty buck rather than the athletes. The Big East and Big 12 will more than likely be in shambles in short order.

Actually, from the sounds of it, the Pac-16 at least will actually sustain and even elevate regional rivalries -- assuming the "pod" plan goes ahead (in fact, in the years the NW and Cal pods are aligned, we'll be back to the tradition of the Pac-8, which about as traditional as it gets). I guess it's all a matter of perspective -- I remember the grousing a few years ago about how USC was "always" at the top of the rankings and threatening to play in the BCS game... which was amusing to those of us who could remember the 80s and 90s when they never sniffed the top of the Pac-10 and weren't even the best football school in LA.

rogue426 wrote:The movement towards 16 team mega conferences is disconcerting.So much for traditional and regional rivalries. College football is more concerned about the almighty buck rather than the athletes. The Big East and Big 12 will more than likely be in shambles in short order.

Fans have cared more for rivalries than the actual schools for decades. And its not just college football. You think MLB wouldn't move the Cubs and the Cardinals out of the same division if there was money to be made? Or the Red Sox and Yankees? Think the Bears and Packers or Steelers and Browns wouldn't be in opposite conferences if they thought it would turn a buck?

rogue426 wrote:The movement towards 16 team mega conferences is disconcerting.So much for traditional and regional rivalries. College football is more concerned about the almighty buck rather than the athletes. The Big East and Big 12 will more than likely be in shambles in short order.

Fans have cared more for rivalries than the actual schools for decades. And its not just college football. You think MLB wouldn't move the Cubs and the Cardinals out of the same division if there was money to be made? Or the Red Sox and Yankees? Think the Bears and Packers or Steelers and Browns wouldn't be in opposite conferences if they thought it would turn a buck?

You have just described the Seattle Seahawks for the last 30 years or so.

Nebraska does not deserve their ranking. I've come to the conclusion that even the AP votes don't do anything besides look at the previous ranking and the score.

That said, this week will spell it all out. GO HUSKERS!!Should be a good game. Nebraska has a chance if they don't make mistakes & turnovers. They've yet to play a game where they looked good, so my bet would be on Wisconsin. Wisconsin also has home turf which will help somewhat although Wisconsin crowds are nothing like Nebraska crowds. Pathetic compared to Nebraska in fact. (judging based on going to one game, so maybe they're louder when they have a real opponent).